Sign



O. E. MU'ITI Oct. 10, 1939.

SIGN

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w w. mm M 7a m m w m 5 m 9 6 V a Q w a 0. E. MUTTI SIGN Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aplfil l4 Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

My invention relates in general to display devices and has more particular reference to an illuminated silhouette sign of novel, inexpensive construction and arrangement.

An important object of my present invention. is

i to provide a silhouette sign, in which characters forming subject-matter of display are .disposed in spaced relationship in front of an illuminated background in order to provide a distinctive silhouette appearance.

Another important object is to provide means for supporting silhouette characters while illuminating them from the rear, in order to provide a sign having a sightly, eye-arresting effect.

Another important object resides in providing novel means affording an attractive illuminated background for the silhouette characters, and illuminating .the same by means of concealed lamps; a further object being to provide an improved mounting for the characters, behind which the illuminating lamp or lamps may be disposed in concealed position.

Another important object resides in forming the background as a panel having a uniformlyroughened, light-dispersive surface, in order to eliminate glare, and thereby render the silhouette characters more readily visible against the back ground.

Another important object resides in providing a novel construction for mounting the background panel and the characters as a unitary structure; a further object being to arrange the background panels and character-supporting means as interconnected, sectionalized elements of uniform size, whereby a signof any desired length may be fabricated from a minimum number of standard parts.

Another important object resides in fabricating the sign parts so that the same may be conveniently assembled to form either a double-face sign or a single-face sign; a further object being to fabricate the parts as light-weight castings, preferably of aluminum or similar light-weight material, thereby providing a rigid, durable, yet extremely light, sign structure.

Another important object resides in providing a sign in which the characters may be readily removed and replaced with other characters, if desired, to alter the displayed subject-matter.

Another important object resides in providing a double-faced sign in box-like form, comprising relatively thin panels formed as castings providing opposed sign faces, end pieces, and suitable internal rigidifying and bracing means to form a light-weight sign structure adapted for suspension in place and affording a housing for means, such as a transformer, for energizing the sign illuminating lamps; a further object being to interconnect the illuminating lamps for both faces of the sign in series for operation from a single transformer.

These and numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a double-face sign embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the several parts forming the sign as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single-face sign embodying the teachings of my present invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line B-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an exploded View of parts in perspective used in the construction illustrated in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternate form of sign character that may be used in place of those shown in Figures 1 and 5.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawings a sign comprising means Ii forming a background, and support means l3 mounted on the means H and serving'to support silhouette sign characters [5 in spaced position in front of the background. The support means l3 also may serve as a screen behind which lamps ll may be mounted in concealed position to illuminate the background, whereby the sign characters may be displayed in silhouette fashion.

The lamp means I! preferably comprise tubular elements which may conveniently comprise gaseous conduction lamps extending behind the character support means 13 throughout the extent of the sign. These lamps are positioned to direct light of any preferred color characteristic upon the surfaces of the background means H which lie behind the sign characters 55, said surfaces being preferably roughened, as indicated at l8, to provide a uniform texture in the background means, the roughened surfaces having light-dispersive characteristics to eliminate the possibility of glare behind the sign characters, and also to prevent light from being merely reflected upwardly from said surfaces and away from said sign characters.

The roughening I8 may be accomplished in any preferred fashion, and may take the form of any desired texture design. I prefer, however, to utilize a heterogeneously pebbled effect. Other surface forms, including geometrically-arranged, faceted depressions and intermediate projections may, of course, be utilized.

The means II and I3, and also the sign characters I5, preferably comprise parts formed as castings of any suitable, preferably light-weight material, such as aluminum, the means I and I3 preferably being formed by the assembly of parts of uniform shape, in order that a sign of desired size may be fabricated by assembling the desired number of standard parts or sections. To this end, the background means H preferably comprises one or more panels i9 having surfaces te"- tured, as heretofore described, which panels, if more than one panel is used in the sign, are interconnected in edge-abutting relationship to form the background panel.

The upper edges of the panels l9 are preferably formed with ribs 2| which have a strengthening effect and also serve for decorative purposes. The support means I3 preferably comprises one or more sectional bar portions 23 interconnected in abutting endto-end relationship to form a sign supporting beam. This beam at its opposite ends is secured to the lower portions of the background panel, preferably by curved end fittings 25, the bars 23 being preferably formed with ribs 27 for strengthening the same and for decorative purposes, the end pieces 25 having continuations of said ribs 27 formed therein.

I also prefer to apply sectional rigidifying bars 29 along the lower edges of the panels I9, and to support the medial portions of the character-supporting beam on the medial portions of the background panel by means of fittings 3|, which fittings comprise a pair of spaced plates 33 and an intermediate web 35, the plates 33, respectively, being adapted for connection on the charactersupporting beam and on the lower portions of the background panel, and the web 35 being so arranged as to permit the lamp means H to pass the web and at the same time remain concealed behind the sign-carrying beam.

The fittings 3| are preferably applied at the interconnected ends of the bars 23 opposite the joint at the abutting edges of the panels l9, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6 of the drawings, whereby the members 3| serve to rigidly and bracingly interconnect the adjacent sections of the sign.

As shown in Figures 1-4, the means comprise a pair of oppositely-facing background panels which are held in spaced relationship by end pieces 37 comprising plates having flanged means 39 on which the end edges of the panels I9 may be fastened. The upper ends of the plates 31 at the side edges thereof are preferably formed with projections forming continuations of the ribs 2|. The top and bottom of the space defined between the spaced background panels may be closed, if desired, by members 4i of like configuration, the ends of which are fastened to the flange portion 39 of the end members 31. Within the box-like structure thus formed, I provide bracing means 43 opposite the juncture of adjacent sections of the panels I 9 and the members 4|, said member 43 comprising preferably a rectangular frame upon which the abutting edges of the panels l9 and the members 4| may be fastened.

The panels i9 and members 4| may be secured upon the end members 31 and the intermediate brace means 43. The end fittings 25, the base strip 29, and the brackets 3|, may be fastened on the panel means, and the bars 23 may be fastened on the members 25 and 3| in any suitable or convenient fashion and preferably by means of bolts 45, and hanging straps 47 may be fastened on or formed integrally with the end members 37 to afford means for suspending the sign in place.

The lamps H are preferably mounted and supported in place behind the character-supporting screen 13 in any suitable fashion, preferably by being anchored on supports 49, of suitable insulating material such as glass, the supports 49 in turn being carried in clips fastened on the base member 29 in position to extend outwardly of said base member and between it and the screen means I 3.

As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the base of the spaced panels is provided with aligned perforations 5| at opposite ends of the box-like panel structure. At one end of the sign the lamps I! on opposite sides thereof may be electrically interconnected by means of a conductor 53 extending through the aligned openings 5|. At the opposite end of the sign the lamps I! may be electrically connected with a transformer 55 mounted within the box-like panel structure and concealed between the spaced background forming panels, the connection being accomplished by suitable conductors 51. The panel 3'! adjacent said transformer 55 also may be formed with an opening 59 therethrough through which conductors from an external source of electrical power may extend for the purpose of energizing the transformer 55.

As shown in Figure 5-7 of the drawings, the sectionalized panel members l9, support members 23, and the panel rigidifying members 29 and support brackets 25 and 3|, of exactly the same shape and construction of the corresponding parts employed in the double-face sign construction shown in Figure 1-4, may be employed in the construction of a single-face sign. In the singleface sign the panel sections l9 are interconnected by means of a plate I43 preferably having a flange 45 formed thereon in position to extend in the joint between the abutting edges of the panels I 9. The opposite end edges of the panels l9 are rigidified by means of finishing strips I37. The lamp ll in the single-face sign is energized by connection with a suitable transformer I55 conveniently located with respect to the sign and from which the high voltage conductors, insulated in any suitable or preferred fashion, extend to the lamp means H.

The sign characters l5 preferably comprise silhouette letters formed as castings. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, these letters may be solid, although, as shown in Figure 8 the solid letters may be formed with slots H5 in order to give the appearance of a light streak within the outer boundaries of the silhouette characters. In either case, the cast letters are preferably formed with flanged means in the lower portions thereof adapted to seat upon the upper edge of the bars 23, so that by suitable fastening elements penetrating the flanges at the bottom of the characters, the same may be rigidly mounted on the sign support l3 in readily removable fash- It will be seen that my invention provides an inexpensive sign construction, light in weight, yet having rigid characteristics. The signs may be fabricated in any desired size and length by multiplying sections, yet all of the parts required both for the single and double-face sign, may be fabricated of parts formed from a minimum number of master patterns.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention nor sacrificing its attendant advantages, the form herein shown and described being merely for the purpose of demonstrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A sign comprising a frame including background panel means, a sign character mounting comprising brackets in spaced relationship on said frame at an edge of said panel means, and a member supported on said brackets in position spaced from said edge of said panel means to sup port sign characters in front of said panel means andmeansfor supportinga light source in screened position within the zone defined by said spaced brackets and character-supporting member, and between said member and said edge of the panel means, in position to illuminate the surfaces of said panel means behind said sign characters.

2. A sign comprising a frame including sectional background panel means, said panel means comprising facsimile panels, means securing said panels together in edge-to-edge abutting relationship, the terminal edges of the panels forming said sectionalized panel means being connected to end members for strengthening and rigidifying said panel means at the opposite ends thereof, sign character mounting means comprising a sectionalized support, said support comprising facsimile members supported in end-to-end abutting relationship, end connection fittings securing the opposed ends of said character mounting means on said frame adjacent said end members whereby said character mounting means extends in alignment with an edge of said panel means between said end members, intermediate bracket means interconnecting the abutting edges of said facsimile members with each other and with said frame, said character-mounting means serving to support sign characters in position extending in front of said background panel means, and means for supporting a light source in screened position within the zone defined by said charactermounting means in position to illumimate the surface of said panel means behind said sign characters.

3. A sign as set forth in claim 2, wherein said end members are provided with suspension means for connection on asign support.

4. A sign comprising duplicate sign assembly means in back-to-back relationship, each of said duplicate sign means comprising background panel means, a sign character mounting comprising brackets in spaced relationship on said panel means at an edge thereof, and a member supported on said brackets in position spaced from said edge of said panel means to support sign characters in front of said panel means, and means for supporting a light source in screened position within the zone defined by said spaced brackets and character supporting memoer and between said member and said edge of the panel means in position to illuminate the surfaces of said panel means behind said sign characters, and connecting members at the opposite ends of said sign, the opposed ends of the panel means of each assembly being secured on one of said connecting members whereby said members serve to rigidly connect the sign assemblies together in back-to-back relationship.

5. A sign as set forth in claim 4, wherein said connecting members and the panel means of the sign assemblies define a space between the panel means of said assemblies, andtransformer means for energizing said light sources, said transformer means being housed within said space and electrically connected with said light sources.

6. A sign as set forth in clam 4, wherein said connecting members and the panel means of the sign assemblies define a space between the panel means of said'assemblies, and transformer means for energizing said light sources, said transformer means being housed within said space and electrically connected with said light sources, said light sources being electrically connected together at one end of the sign and being connected with said transformer means at the other end of the sign whereby the light sources on opposite sides of the sign are interconnected in series and loaded on the transformer.

'7. A sign as set forth in claim 4, wherein said. connecting members and the panel means of the sign assemblies define a space between the panel means of said assemblies, and transformer means for energizing said light sources, said transformer means being housed within said space and electrically connected with said light sources, said light sources being electrically connected together at one end of the sign and being connected with said transformer means at the other end of the sign whereby the light sources on opposite sides of the sign are interconnected in series and loaded on the transformer, and means extending through an opening in one of said end connecting members for energizing said transformer means from an external source of electrical power. I

' OSCAR E. MUTTI, 

